Typo in catalog proves costly for Macy's, also costs writer his job

Every weekday, PR Daily associate editor Alan Pearcy highlights the day’s most compelling stories and amusing marginalia on the Web in this, #TheDailySpin.

Thanks to ads featuring Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber, Donald Trump, Martha Stewart, and Puff DaddyP. DiddyDiddy Sean Combs, Macy’s has shown it can really bring the stars together. However, a recent catalogue ad showed the department store can also make the stars align, albeit accidentally and for only a few lucky customers.

According to WFAA-TV, the retailer mailed a catalogue advertising a “Super Buy,” which was even more super thanks to a typo that listed a $1,500 necklace—made of sterling silver and 14-karat gold with diamond accents—for the bargain price of $47. However, not all orders for the piece of jewelry were fulfilled:

The Stir reports that the copywriter responsible for the mistake was fired.

Aside from avoiding costly typos, IMGrind.com lists 22 other characteristics of a great copywriter.

Meanwhile, Copyblogger provides tips on how to write prose like Google.

Google was one of the many brands that got in on the April Fools’ Day action this week, although as The Huffington Post indicates, these companies and their marketing teams didn’t have all the fun. Pranksters from the literary industry joined the action, too.

Speaking of literature, mental_floss shares a brief anatomy lesson on 10 terms used to describe various components of a book.

Amazon might consider modifying its Kindle book-return policy. GalleyCat reports that as of Monday, nearly 1,200 people had signed a Change.org petition created by authors and publishers urging the e-retailer to shorten the amount of time consumers have to request a refund on e-books, which is currently seven days. They claim online shoppers are reading the books and then returning them.

Although it doesn’t make up for the money they’re losing, authors might appreciate Writer’s Digest’s guide to the nine ingredients of character development.

While mazes can be rather puzzling, they’re nothing compared to maneuvering the world of corporate ad speak. As a matter of fact, that’s the subject of a new film titled “And Now a Word from Our Sponsor.” According to Cinema Blend, the movie is about an advertising exec who wakes up in the hospital and can only speak in commercial slogans. You can watch the movie’s trailer below: